Boeing cuts back

Boeing has announced it will cut 4,500 jobs from its commercial jetliner manufacturing division.

Most of the reductions are expected to occur in the state of Washington, in the US, in the second quarter of the year.

The reduction will bring the Commercial Airplanes unit employment to approximately 63,500, similar to the level it was at the start of 2008.

Many of the job reductions will be in overhead functions and other areas not directly associated with aeroplane production.

'We are taking prudent actions to make sure Boeing remains well-positioned in today's difficult economic environment,' said Scott Carson, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

'We have made significant strides in recent years to achieve greater efficiency and productivity, but we still face challenges that we must address,' said Carson.

'We regret the disruption to those affected by this decision, but we believe that acting now will allow us to be in a financial position to adapt to market uncertainties, meet our customer commitments, continue investing in our current and future product lines, and protect our competitiveness in a fiercely competitive business environment.'

Affected employees will receive 60-day notices, beginning in late February.